Gary Medley
*Contact*: Jocelyn Sycip, Director: 503.956.4071, *
jocelyn@oregonmanifest.com*
*Contact*: Gary Medley, Medley Communications, 503.516.1468, *
gtmedley@gmail.com *
*For Immediate Release*: September 16, 2009
Ask Them to Build it—and They Will Come
Oregon Manifest Constructor’s Design Challenge
Draws the Nation's Top Bike Builders
PORTLAND, Ore. – Thirty-two of the nation’s bravest custom bike builders
have thrown their welding torches into the ring to contest the Oregon
Manifest's first annual *Constructor's Design Challenge*. Each craftsman
will be designing and fabricating toward “the ultimate transportation bike,”
a purpose-built bicycle that can navigate modern lifestyles and landscapes
with great functionality and style.
The entry list reads like a who's who of hand-built bike builders,
including such well known names as SyCip Design, from Santa Rosa, Calif.,
Ahearne Cycles from Portland, Ore., and Igleheart Custom Bicycles from
Wenham, Mass.
The *Constructor's Design Challenge *has presented the builders with the
problem of developing an innovative, modern transportation bike – one that
is flexible, durable, able to portage reasonable loads with ease, and ready
to accommodate the many small and large challenges of everyday riding.
Today’s transportation bikes must be sturdy and durable, yet nimble enough
to provide all-around utility during a short trip or a longer haul.
“The *Constructor's Design Challenge *is the focus of this year's expanded
Oregon Manifest,” explained Jocelyn SyCip, director. “With cycling emerging
as the smart, green choice for daily transportation, the need to develop
well-considered, versatile, and multi-purpose bikes is becoming increasingly
relevant. Oregon Manifest hopes to illuminate this traditionally neglected
bike category by issuing a Design Challenge to those who consistently
traffic in beautiful, considered solutions: custom bike builders.”
Chris King of Chris King Precision Components (and now bikes) understands
the bicycle's unique place in transportation history. "Of all the designs
and inventions that have come along,” King explained, “the bicycle has
changed the least from its infancy; form following function can't be more
true. It has allowed people to travel, to see places affordably, near and
far, at a pace that one's senses can appreciate."
To prove that the bikes entered in the *Constructor**’**s Design
Challenge*deliver function as well as form, the bikes will compete in
a one-of-a-kind
transportation test. Presented by Rapha, the UK-based cycling apparel maker,
the *Constructor's Race* will serve up 77 miles of epic on-and-off road
terrain inspired by the European one-day classics, such as *Paris-Roubaix*.
*Design Challenge* builders (or their designated riders) will brave dirt,
gravel, elevation climbs, and urban technical trials on the secret,
yet-to-be-revealed route to bike victory.
Here's a complete listing of the bike builders entered:
*Ahearne Cycles * : San Jose, California
*Ahrens Bicycles * : San Jose, California
*Boxer Bicycles * : Seattle, Washington
*Cielo by Chris King * : Portland, Oregon (not
to be judged)
*Circle A Cycles * : Providence, Rhode Island
*Courage Bicycle Mfg. Co. * : Portland, Oregon
*Curt Goodrich Bicycles * : Minneapolis,
Minnesota
DiNucci Cycles : Sisters, Oregon
*Donkelope Bikes * : Bellingham, Washington
*Framebones Cycles * : Mill Creek, Oregon
*Frances Cycles * : Santa Cruz, California
*Hufnagel Cycles * : Portland, Oregon
*Igleheart Custom Bicycles * : Wenham,
Massachusetts
*Inglis Cycles * : Napa, California
*Ira Ryan Cycles * : Portland, Oregon
*Magnolia Bicycles * : Memphis, Tennessee
*Map Bicycles * : Portland, Oregon
*Metrofiets * : Portland, Oregon
*Pereira Cycles * : Portland, Oregon
Parlee Cycles ; Peabody, Massachusetts
*Quixote Cycles * : Portland, Oregon
*Rebolledo Cycles * : Glen Ellen,
California
*Rex Cycles * : Sacramento, California
*Signal Cycles * : Portland, Oregon
*Sizemore Bicycle * : Tacoma, Washington
*Sprout Cycles * : Portland, Oregon
*SyCip Design * : Santa Rosa, California
*Ti Cycles * : Portland, Oregon
*Tsunehiro Cycles * : Portland, Oregon
*Vertigo Cycles * : Portland, Oregon
*Winter Bicycles * : Eugene, Oregon
A prestigious panel of cycling experts will judge the bikes on Friday,
October 2nd: Rob Forbes, founder of Design Within Reach, now launching
Public Bikes; Sky Yaegar, designer of Swobo Bikes, and industry
revolutionary; Ron Sutphin, president of United Bicycle Institute,
Ashland/Portland; and Bryant Bainbridge, product creation, Specialized
Bicycles.
Points will be awarded in the 10 demanding Design Consideration categories
The top 12 winners (and the three race winners) will be displayed in the
Oregon Manifest Bike Union storefront for more than five weeks.
All entries will be on public display for two days during the *Design
Challenge *and *Race* weekend, with the top winners to be displayed at the
Oregon Bicycle Constructors Association Handmade Bicycle Show, among other
places. In addition, all participants will be featured in a coffee table
book being produced around the event.
*ABOUT OREGON MANIFEST*
Running from October 2 to November 8 in Portland, Oregon Manifest 09
(presented by Chris King Precision Components with generous help from the
City of Portland) will highlight the bike's influence on culture,
sustainability, and urban design. There’s something great in store for every
type of bike lover – a national bike design challenge, an acclaimed Danish
bike cultural exhibit*, *two bike races, guest speakers, a cycling apparel
fashion show, and a pop-up storefront Bike Union in the Pearl District.
*SUPPORTERS OF OREGON MANIFEST*
Oregon Manifest, a non-profit organization, wouldn't be possible without the
generous support of its partners. Presenting sponsor Chris King Precision
Components and the City of Portland have been instrumental in seeding the
event. Other Champion supporters include Cycle Oregon, Hopworks Urban
Brewery, Drive less. Save More., Portland Development Commission, the Pearl
District Business Association, and Rapha. Additional support comes from the
Ace Hotel, Alta Planning + Design, Castelli US, Clever Cycles, Grey Matter
Design, Momentum Magazine, Nau, pdxcross.com, River City Bicycles, United
Bicycle Institute, and Wells Fargo.
For more information on Oregon Manifest visit
*www.oregonmanifest.com.
*
--
Gary Medley
gtmedley@gmail.com
503-516-1468
www.medleycommunications.net
http://twitter.com/gtmedley